Hollywood Commission: We Have Faith In Manager

City commissioners took a break from their regular agenda to pass a "resolution of confidence" backing Finz for the job he has done handling the hiring scandal at the Police Department.

About 40 city employees, including several department heads, filed into the commission chamber to show their support.

"We the members of the City Commission ... have always had and continue to have the highest confidence in Samuel Finz," said the resolution read by Commissioner Eleanor Sobel.

Mayor Mara Giulianti said Finz has been under much stress recently dealing with the highly publicized scandal.

"These challenges tend to test one's mettle," Giulianti said.

"This is a very meaningful thing to have the support of the people you work with," Finz said.

Finz has taken the lead in trying to resolve the police hiring problems. On Friday, Finz slapped a gag order on Police Chief Richard Witt that prevents him from talking about the investigation without written permission. The scandal, which broke early last month, brought to light problems in the way 40 of 67 police officers were hired in the past five years.

Four personnel officers, including one of the two deputy chiefs, have been suspended. An internal investigation continues.

Finz, who is saying little about the investigation these days, did say he was dismayed by talk that he disclosed confidential information on police officers to the media.

Finz said he has never had access to police personnel files.

Vice Mayor Richard Blattner said the investigation has brought Finz and City Attorney Jamie Cole to a better working relationship. The pair had been at odds.

Finz said he will work to conclude the investigation and restore morale in the Police Department.